One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Residential Sale

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Brisbane's most expensive property to sell at weekend auction fetched $1.39 million.
Brenton Faehrmann of Place Group Bulimia was the selling agent of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-seven+hills-120947150" target="_blank">13 Ursus St, Seven Hills</a>.
The property hadn't been traded since 1990 when it was sold for $145,000. 
The 1242 sqm family home features dual street access, manicured lawns and gardens and a 20 seat entertaining deck with Miele dishwasher, built in bbq and sink.
The inside kitchen designed by Garsden and Clarke's kitchen interiors and includes integrated appliances, a breakfast bar and a 40ml stone bench with waterfall ends.
The six bedroom property has three bedrooms downstairs and three upstairs.
Separate to the main house is a shed/games room of the corner block. 
The suburb of Seven Hills is five kilometres from Brisbane CBD.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Seven Hill Brisbane home takes most expensive weekend sale

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The most expensive Adelaide property to be sold at weekend auction was a beachside family home at 80 Myrtle Road in Seacliff.
Brad Allen from Brad J Smith sold the home for $1.18 million.
Built in 1984, the property comprises of four bedrooms, three bathrooms and an all weather alfresco deck with kitchen and bbq area.
South west of the centre of Adelaide, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-seacliff-121129638" target="_blank">1185 sqm property</a> is metres to Seacliff beach and a short walk to Seacliff train station.
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Seacliff four bedder Adelaide's most expensive sale

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Sydney's Kensington has a new suburb record.
The four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-kensington-121045082" target="_blank">1A Tunstall Ave, Kensington</a> has been sold for $4 million through BickmoreHutt Realty.
The Tunstall Avenue home sold prior to auction.
The previous Kensington record was a home at 10 McDougall Street that sold for $3.775 million last year.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Residential Kensington record price heads to $4 million

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Actor Fiona Spence, one of the most admired Australian television stars throughout the past three decades, has sold her Lewisham home.
She's looking to downsize, but staying in the inner west.
Her grand three bedroom, two storey <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-lewisham-120725877" target="_blank">Hunter St terrace</a> was restored and renovated while maintaining its classic Victorian period feel.
Exisitite pressed metal ceilings in several rooms along with original fireplaces.
Sally Hampshire at Laing + Simmons Double Bay had the offering with near $1.9 million hopes.
Leaving Melbourne for Sydney in 1996, Fiona Spence bought the home for $364,000. 
Born in Kent, England to an Irish mother and an Australian surgeon father, she first moved to Hong Kong and then aged six to Australia. 
The stage and television actor is best known as the unlucky in love spinster Celia Stewart in Home and Away - Alf's sister. Then there was her role as prison officer Vera Bennett in Prisoner series and she was also on Packed to the Rafters as Ted Taylor's ex-love interest, Eleanor McCormack. 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Actor Fiona Spence sells Lewisham home

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The controversial former NRL player Todd Carney has recently settled on an off the plan Sans Souci apartment purchase.
Carney, currently playing for the Super League club Catalan Dragons, signed up to buy the $460,000 off the plan apartment shortly after he quit the Sydney Roosters in 2011 to play for the Cronulla Sharks.
Building delays saw settlement postponed well beyond initial indications, leaving Carney to settle on the deal while playing in France.
The 80 sqm apartment is on the third floor of The Jameson, which was developed by Koundouris Projects, in partnership with Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis.
It was bought in early 2012 after Carney had left the Sydney Roosters following a string of off-field club discipline issues. 
The rugby league player is currently in the middle of a legal battle with the Cronulla Sharks following his sacking in June last year. Carney is suing for $3 million for unfair dismissal.
The Jameson was a selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments all with security underground parking and storage with some apartments enjoying Botany Bay water views.
A comparable sale in the Rocky Point Road complex saw a $435,000 off the plan apartment onsold at $520,000 recently which reflected a nice 5.5 per cent annual price growth.
Amid the recent off the plan settlements was the Australian cricket captain Steve Smith who bought in December 2011 for $435,000.
The Koundouris family are better known as owners of the supermarket chain Supabarn, which is currently under offer from Coles subject to ACCC sale approval.
Carney owns an impressive portfolio, now with four known Sydney properties. His portfolio's first acquisition was  in 2007 when he bought a $395,000 Wentworth Point apartment which is a $410 a week rental.
Carney was back in the news this week after using social media late last month suggesting he had married a Brazilian bikini model in Bali.
Carney's manager David Riolo later explained it was a gee up by the pair.
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NRL's Todd Carney settles on off the plan Sydney purchase

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The recently appointed AMP director, Holly Kramer and her husband, the former Canterbury Bulldogs chief Malcolm Noad turned gentleman farmer, sold their five bedroom Pymble home ahead of a scheduled weekend auction. 
The deal was secured late on Melbourne Cup day.
Scott Chadwick, of Chadwick Real Estate, was hoping to get close to $4 million for <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/35-telegraph-road-pymble/Property-Details-buy-residential-9681510" target="_blank">the five bedroom Telegraph Road property</a> which cost $3.1 million in 2010 when she was at Pacific Brands.
The couple plan to spend more time in the Southern Highlands where they have a 40 hectare cattle farm at Paddys River which runs 38 head of cattle. 
The couple who wed at Milton Park in 2003 met when she was Ford's marketing manager and he was group general manager of News Ltd.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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Former Canterbury Bulldogs chief Malcolm Noad sells in Pymble

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The White House in old Byron Bay on Kingsley Street, listed with $3 million plus hopes, has been sold at $3.25 million pre-auction.
Qantas captain Pete Chaseling and his equestrienne wife, Angela and their three children are moving to be closer to family. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-byron-bay-nsw-2481/274475" target="_blank">The architectural design</a> was inspired by the work of Isay Weinfeld. 
The four bedroom solar passive home has a north facing back yard of level lawn, covered timber decking, pool and vegie garden on its 1015 sqm holding. 
<a href="https://uniqueestates.com.au/listings/residential_sale-447729-byron-bay/" target="_blank">Ruth Gotterson from Unique Estates</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-byron-bay-nsw-2481/274475" target="_blank">Nick Dunn at McGrath</a> had the listing.
Kingsley Street has seen <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-byron+bay-115104447" target="_blank">sales up to $3.5 million</a>.
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Isay Weinfeld inspired Byron Bay trophy home sold

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Spin doctor Sue Cato and her fund manager husband Vaughan Busby sold their vast Glebe home at weekend auction for $3.21 million.
There were three bidders among the six registered parties, with it knocked down to the opening bidder who commenced the auction with a $2.8 million bid.
It last traded in 2011 for $2.2 million then being redesigned by Michael Bechara into a <a href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/49-hereford-street-glebe-11997" target="_blank">contemporary three-bedroom residence</a>.
Set on almost 500 square metres it comes with industrial touches and warehouse-style scale.
It was initially expected to sell for more than $2.8 million through BresicWhitney agents Matt Carvalho and Shannan Whitney who raised their price guidance during the campaign to $3 million plus.
Sue Cato sold her Stanwell Park weekender last month for $2,765,000 having renovated since bought in 2006 for $1.7 million.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Spin doctor Sue Cato sells in Glebe

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<img src="/images/2015/11/NEW_RAMS_LOGO.jpg" alt="">
As a first home buyer, you may be eligible to receive a grant or stamp duty concession to help with your property purchase.
Each state and territory has its own scheme and the offers, qualification criteria and processes for applying vary accordingly.  
In the ACT, for example, the territory government offers $12,500 to owners whose first buy is a newly built or a substantially renovated property worth up to $750,000. 
In Western Australia, grants of up to $10,000 are available to first home buyers purchasing or building a new home. 
Check with the finance or revenue office in your state or territory for more details.
 
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Australian Capital Territory
</td>
<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.revenue.act.gov.au</a>
 
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New South Wales
</td>
<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.osr.nsw.gov.au</a>
 
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Northern Territory
</td>
<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.revenue.nt.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.revenue.nt.gov.au</a>
 
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Queensland
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<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.osr.qld.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.osr.qld.gov.au</a>
 
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South Australia
</td>
<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au</a>
 
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Tasmania
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<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.sro.tas.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.sro.tas.gov.au</a>
 
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Victoria
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<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.sro.vic.gov.au</a>
 
</td>
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<td valign="middle">
Western Australia
</td>
<td valign="middle">
 
<a href="https://www.osr.wa.gov.au/" target="_blank">www.osr.wa.gov.au</a>
 
</td>
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HOW TO APPLY
You can lodge an application for most grants through your mortgage lender or directly with the relevant government office. 
You’ll need to fill in an application form and provide proof of your identity, address and details about the property purchase. The exact documents you’ll need will depend on the property’s location and your circumstances, such as whether you’re buying a newly completed home or building yourself. 
When the grant is paid depends on the type of purchase and whether you applied through a lender or directly. For off-the-plan purchases in NSW, for instance, payment is made at settlement if you applied through your lender, or within 15 working days of lodgement after the transaction has completed if you applied directly. 
To meet the conditions of most first home owner grants, you (or another grant applicant) will have to live in the property as your primary home for at least 12 months within a year of settlement or completion. If you move out too soon you’ll have to repay the grant. 
Quick tip: Check with your state or territory finance or revenue office for details on what assistance may be available to you.
 
TO FIND OUT HOW RAMS CAN HELP EASE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL RAMS HOME LOAN EXPERT OR DROP IN FOR YOUR <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297184293;124283199;t" target="_blank">FREE FIRST HOME BUYERS’ GUIDE</a>.
For more great property advice and tips on buying your first home from RAMS subscribe to <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297184408;124284900;i" target="_blank">The Great Australian Dream property series</a>.
For your free Property Observer eBook from RAMS, 12 tips for first-time buyers, covering everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.
Disclaimer: Information in this material is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. You should also obtain independent professional advice relevant to your financial circumstances.
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First Home Buyers' guide

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About $10.5 million - and a suburb record runner up - has been snappily secured by the billioniare entreprenuer Mike Cannon-Brookes for his redundant Paddington home through McGrath agent Ben Collier.
Cannon-Brookes, the co-founder of Atlassian, and his fashion-design industry wife, Annie Cannon-Brookes paid $7.3 million for <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-paddington-nsw-2021/273700/?searchID=56636468" target="_blank">the Hargrave Street landmark</a> in 2010, after it was on the market for two years.
Now with three children, they have relocated to the $12 million Centennial Park Federation trophy home, Braelin.
<div>Mike Cannon-Brookes was at his San Francisco offices when he signed the sales contract on Friday, before heading off to the Rugby World Cup final. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>It sold within a week of its formal advertising although McGrath selling agent Ben Collier has shows through select buyers since early October.  </div>
The landmark converted Windsor Castle Hotel was sold at a record $13 million price for Paddington last week when bought by hotelier Ben May and his wife, Lucy.
The new residence had been three years in construction by interior designer Rita Polovin and her husband, former restaurateur Peter Polovin who paid $4.3 million in 2009. At the time the hotel prices were going backwards at it fetched $5 million in 2007.
Until last week Paddington's record had stood at $7.75 million - first set in 2006 for a double terrace on Union Street and then matched when developer Stephen Dunkley sold his contemporary Goodhope Street home in 2010.
Duncan and Lynley Hardie had paid $4,625,000 in 2003 for the former House of Desks outlet, then spent $4 million plus converting the former 1907 emporium into a four-storey, but eight level trophy mansion.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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